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Keep Puako Beautiful and South Kohala Reef Alliance coastal cleanup & environmental education along the South Kohala Coast of the Big Island

If you have a group and are interested in organizing a beach, trail or ocean cleanup we can help. Contact us for supplies, waivers, and help with permission from various agencies. Together we can do more to keep our island clean and beautiful.

Enjoy our latest newsletter: 4-2-24 Newsletter

Upcoming Events

For a calendar of events please go to our calendar page Calendar

Join us on Saturday, November 16, 2024 from 8am to noon for the annual Whale Season Celebration co-sponsored by Hawaii Boat Clubs. The day will kick off with a beach cleanup from 8am to 9am, followed by visits to the ocean education tables and short presentations. There will be games with prizes for the whole family, and a free raffle to win a boat trip.  Please sign our on-line waiver to participate by clicking on this link: on-line waiver

Location is the Hawaii Boat Clubs members lounge at 61-3665 Akoni Pule Hwy Ste 9A in Kawaihae. (map)

 

Your Donations are Needed

Our cleanups, outreach and educational programs make a positive impact on our coastal environment. We are grateful for contributions and support from our valued community partners and volunteers. YOUR DONATIONS ARE IMPORTANT! Help us be sustainable and continue our community conservation efforts on the South Kohala Coast. Tax exempt donations accepted by South Kohala Reef Alliance, EIN #46-0680337 a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.

New Service Project Partnership in South Kohala

Keep Puako Beautiful is partnering with the Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail Corridor, NPS and NOAA Marine Derbis Hawaii to provide collection bins and supplies to reduce and recycle the amount of environmentally harmful marine debris, fishing line and cigarette litter that enters into the ocean in South Kohala. We identified sites of need and partnered with the government, and public and private sector landlords for approval to install BIN kiosks on their land. Oceana Steward partners joining us to develop a year around monitoring program are KPB data specialists, Hawaii Preparatory Academy Marine Science Educator, HPA High School Capstone program and Hawaii Institute of Public Health.

Puako Boat Ramp fishing line and cigarette recycle tubes

Watch this great video to learn about coral. Coral video

Watch the Living808 clip showcasing our June 4, 2022 event.

 

  Read about us in West Hawaii Today here West Hawaii Today article

 

HELP PROTECT OUR OCEANS

Marine Debris Affects Everyone

In Hawaii we share our ocean with more than 7,000 species of marine life. Of these species, approximately 25 percent are found nowhere else in the world. Coral reefs are the rain forests of the sea. They are living animals that eat, grow, reproduce, and provide food and shelter for fish and other marine life. Join us in helping to protect our ocean, our reef, and our marine life.

Here’s what you can do to “MALAMA”(take care of) this special place:

  • Help us reduce threats to our oceans and wildlife prevent marine debris.
  • Protect coral reefs from pollution and soil erosion by preventing wildfires.
  • Remove polluting litter and toxic cigarette butts from our ocean and waterway environment.
  • 4Rs: REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE, and REFUSE single use plastic.
  • Explore this website and other resources to gain awareness.
  • Challenge yourself to do a 15 minute “speed cleanup” each time you visit our beaches.

Ocean Etiquette

On The Shore:

  • Apply sunscreen 30 minutes before entering the water or cover up with a t-shirt or rash guard. Sunscreens that don’t contain oxybenzone are more “reef-friendly.” Choose one with zinc instead.
  • Use a trash can, not the sand. Or take it with you. Plastic debris often ends up in the ocean and can entangle marine life.
  • Respect local cultural sites and traditional practices. Take time to ask about the rules, practices, and guidelines in place.

In The Water:

  • Choose a sandy place to enter and exit the water. And iff you must stand, stand on sand and not on the coral reef. Coral is a living animal and direct contact harms coral. It takes seconds to damage a reef that may take decades to recover.
  • Fish don’t need to be fed. Many are grazers, keeping algae (seaweed or limu) in check.
  • Leave corals, shells, and rocks where they lie. Many creatures live in, on, and around them.
  • Give marine life plenty of space. Keep your distance, look but don’t touch. Many species, including turtles, whales, and dolphins, are protected from harassment by state and federal laws.Tha